The legendary Mahotella Queens has vowed to return to Sedibeng region to facilitate musical workshops following a stint visit in a bid to preserve Mbhaqanga legacy.

Taking intervals in between their performances, Hilda Tloubatla took time to have a word or two with the young revellers who had gathered in their large numbers post commemoration of the Sharpeville Massacre formal proceedings.

“It can’t be right that every day we jet off to overseas to conduct workshops about our locally produced music yet our children are neglected,” laments Tloubatla.

The 74-year old lead singer says the mentality that something is only good because it is endorsed or comes from abroad is wrong as a result that has to change.

“We cannot have people coming and claiming what is rightfully ours, our children need to take pride in their music,” Tloubatla added.

Recently jazz maestro Don Laka took to social media and vented his anger over lack of airplay for local music by the national broadcaster in favour of international acts.

Laka also came under fire for naming club DJs who are now doubling as radio disc-jockeys by deeming the move as a conflict of interest.

SHARPEVILLE- Gauteng Premier, David Makhura says the death of sixty nine people who died during the Sharpeville massacre in 1960 was not in vain.

They were brutally killed by the apartheid police during a peaceful protest against pass laws.

Makhura was speaking at the annual commemoration which is now known as the Human Rights Day.

As the country remembers those who died and the many victims who were also wounded on the day, Makhura said it is befitting to launch an anti-racism initiative which will uphold the rights of all South Africans.

“Government is committed to assisting the families of those that died because most of these families are impoverished and marginalised due to the loss of their loved ones.

Most of the youth in these families are unemployed. This is our immediate concern to ensure that they find employment so they can take care of their families,” said Makhura.

Makhura also pledged that the families of those that died during the Sharpeville massacre will also be prioritised in the allocation of housing in the area.

“A nation that cannot honour those that sacrificed for the future of many more generations is not a respectable nation,” added Makhura.

He said it was therefore important to ensure that all people live in dignity when talking about Human Rights.

To this end, he said the province would also launch a major initiative.

“We are going to take the children of the victims and survivours back to school. But our priority is the elder people. The country that does not respect or take care of its veterans is dead,” he explained.

According to the Premier, they are also going to offer houses to ex-combatant who are homeless but they are going to start with elderly people and those who are physical challenge.

He said those can build for themselves are going to be given empty stands.

Midvaal mayor Bongani Baloyi has filed a case of intimidation against FF+

A case of intimidation has been filed by the Executive Mayor of Midvaal, Bongani Baloyi, at the Meyerton Police Station.

According to the Democratic Alliance, a community meeting for Ward 13 in the NG Kerk Oos, Riversdal where mayor Baloyi was to address the community regarding progress in Midvaal achieved so far, and share the vision for Midvaal for the next five years was violently interrupted by members of Freedom Front Plus.

DA Gauteng Provincial Leader, John Moodey said, “These FF+ members came to intimidate mayor Baloyi and fellow DA members from delivering our message to the community. The DA condemns these desperate antics by the FF+ as symptomatic of the proverbial ‘dying horse’.

“We will write to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to investigate this political intolerance to prevent another incident like this in Midvaal.”

“I will not allow anyone to intimidate and threaten me because of my political association, views on AA and BBBEE and most importantly because of the colour of my skin,” Baloyi said.

The Vanderbijlpark man, accused of killing his wife and two children appeared in Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

Fanie Du Preez’s trial was postponed until 11 April and he will remain in custody until then. Members of both families were in the courtroom. De Preez did not communicate with his wife’s family, but waved to his relatives before staring straight ahead for the rest of his appearance.

Du Preez wore blue jeans and blue and white checked shirt with a white collar. Du Preez said he no longer needed legal aid as his family has hired Jaco van Wyk as his lawyer.

Du Preez has been behind bars since December, which was when the court rejected his bail application.

The court heard during the bail application that Du Preez gave police contradicting stories of what happened the night his family was murdered.

Vaal LGBTI’s members making their way to a cop shop to handover a memorandum. Picture by Reginald Nhlapo

by SMANGA KUMALO and REGINALD NHLAPO

Enough is enough, End heterosexual privilege equal rights for all and Love women who love women; these and more were messages displayed on placards as members of the Vaal LGBTI (Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual, Trans-gender & Intersex) made their way to Mafatsane police station in Evaton to tone their cry and seek justice on hate crime and racism on Tuesday morning.

The well attended march was supported by the ANCYL, Young Communist League (YCL), COSATU and members of the community.

LGBTI Project Manager, Lindiwe Nhlapo said they want police and residents to know that bisexuals do exist.

This comes after a member of the LGBTI was raped and found killed.

The mutilated body of Matshidiso Melamu was found dumped in an open ground next to Mopholosi Secondary school.

During the terror, Melamu’s breasts were cut off and body burnt with acid while her friend who was also raped managed to escape.

“We want justice to take its cause. Residents must know that we do exist and they must stop killing us. We are human beings too; we are also tired of having our sexuality questioned whenever we try to open cases with police. People must accept and respect our rights,” Nhlapo said.

It is alleged that three cases of rape have been reported but none of those were attended to or taken seriously by the cops.

“When we do follow up’s we are often told the investigating officer is on leave or the dockets are missing. Some of the cases go unreported because queers are afraid to be discriminated against,” fumes Nhlapo.

Sello Maetso, Vaal SACP General Secretary said christians must acknowledge that gays and lesbians exist in the country.

“We must not wait for someone to be killed so we can march. We must work in unity,” Maetso concluded.

Executive Mayor of Midvaal Local Municipality, Councillor Bongani Baloyi, is offering a reward of R10 000 to anyone who can provide information that will enable the police to locate baby Relebohile Prince “Ditsebe” Tsotesi who was abducted last Wednesday by four armed men outside his mother’s house.

Baby Relo’s abduction has occurred during 16 Days of Activism against violence against Women and Children and highlights the importance of communities working with government to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children.

Mayor Baloyi said: “My heart goes out to little baby Relo’s mother and the rest of his family. I would like to add to her appeal for anyone who has information on his whereabouts to please come forward.

I cannot imagine the trauma that his family must be going through and would like to send my support to them during this difficult time.It is my hope that baby Relo is found soon and safely returned to his family.”

The Mayor’s hope is that the municipality’s offer of a reward will encourage anyone with information that will lead to finding Relebohile, and the arrest and conviction of those responsible for his abduction, to come forward as a matter of urgency.